Damas, Towson stun Beavers

CORVALLIS — Marcus Damas drilled an 18-foot shot with eight-tenths of a second left gave Towson a shocking 67-66 overtime win Saturday over Oregon State.

The Associated Press

CORVALLIS — Marcus Damas drilled an 18-foot shot with eight-tenths of a second left gave Towson a shocking 67-66 overtime win Saturday over Oregon State.

The Tigers (5-8), who got 20 points and a career-high 21 rebounds from Jerrelle Benimon, overcame a 19-point second-half deficit to force the five-minute extra period.

Ahmad Starks gave Oregon State (9-3) its first lead in overtime on a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left.

On the ensuing possession, Damas took a pass a few feet inside the 3-point line on the left wing and nailed the shot, quieting the Gill Coliseum crowd that had celebrated Starks' shot a short time earlier.

The Beavers, who suffered their first loss in seven home games this season, were unable to get off a potential game-winning shot. Oregon State's Roberto Nelson was called for an offensive foul while going after a deep inbounds from teammate Joe Burton. Towson then inbounded the ball to run out the clock.

"You go to 19 like we did and you have an ability to make a team quit, and you don't make the plays you need to make," Oregon State coach Craig Robinson said.

Towson declined interviews after the game.

Damas finished with 16 points and teammate Jerome Harrison had nine points and five rebounds.

Towson, which lost by 20 at home to Oregon State last season, grabbed 13 offensive rebounds in the second half after getting just two in the first half. The Tigers had a 46-44 rebounding advantage overall.

"That can't happen, where they just muscle us with offensive rebounds," said Oregon State's Eric Moreland. "You're not going to win a game like that."

Towson, which had lost four in a row, trailed 44-25 after Burton made a layin with 16:06 left.

The Tigers answered, eventually closing within 47-40 on Benimon's basket off on offensive rebound with 9:13 remaining. A layin by Towson's Timajh Parker-Rivera with 7:26 left made it 51-46 Oregon State. A basket by teammate Jerome Hairston on the next possession got the Tigers within three.

Benimon made it a two-point game with a layin, and Bilal Dixon's layin with 1:14 left got the Tigers back to even for the first time since the opening seconds of the game.

The teams then traded two free throws apiece, by Devon Collier and Benimon.

Oregon State had the final possession of regulation, with Starks missing a layin and Collier missing two close-in shots before time expired.

"I just think we took our foot off the pedal. I thought we were going in the right direction," Nelson said. "Everybody was jelling and we kind of took a step back and let them get their rhythm, and once they got their rhythm they just started playing."

Benimon gave Towson its first lead of the game with the first basket of overtime. Teammate Rafriel Guthrie gave the Tigers a 64-62 lead on two free throws with 49 seconds left.

Nelson and Damas each made 1 of 2 free throws before Starks gave the Beavers their final lead of the game.

Connecticut 61, Washington 53

At Hartford, Conn., Shabazz Napier scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds to help Connecticut over Washington in the final nonconference game of the year for both teams.

Omar Calhoun led UConn (10-2) with 14 points and Ryan Boatright added 12 to help the Huskies to their fourth consecutive win.

Scott Suggs had 15 to lead Washington (8-5), which lost for the first time in five games.

UConn's win came hours after coach Kevin Ollie agreed to a new 5 1/2;-year contract worth just under $7 million. Ollie had been coaching under a one-season deal that he signed after taking over from Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun in September.

Ollie received a standing ovation as he walked onto the court and the student section chanted his name.

UConn held Washington star C.J. Wilcox to just five points on 2-of-12 shooting. Wilcox, who came in scoring more than 19 points per game, had scored 20 or more in three straight games and seven of the Huskies' last eight. He had scored in double figures in every game this season.

Josh Huestis matched his career-high with 14 rebounds for the Cardinal (9-4), who won their fifth in six games. Dwight Powell added nine points and 11 rebounds.

Harvard 67, California 62

At Berkeley, Calif., Laurent Rivard scored 19 points, and Wesley Saunders added 18, leading Harvard to a win over California.

Harvard (7-4) won its third straight game and beat Cal (8-4) for the first time after dropping the first two meetings in the series

Washington St. 74, Idaho St. 39

At Kennewick, Wash., Washington State overcame a sluggish start to defeat Idaho State.

The Cougars (9-4) used a 20-2 run late in the first half to blow open a close game.

Arizona State 68,Coppin State 52

At Tempe, Ariz., freshman playmaker Jahii Carson had 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead Arizona State past Coppin State 68-52 Saturday in the Sun Devils' final tuneup before beginning Pac-12 play.